Negotiator Episode 21 Recap
> Negotiator Recap
Xie Tianyou hoped Tong Wei could help Xie Xiaofei regain his drive and take control of Xie Corporation. Privately, he believed that once Xie Xiaofei gained power, he would forget his romantic affections. Xie Xiaofei took Tong Wei shopping for a dress for an upcoming gala. Xie Xiaofei had Tong Wei try on several dresses, none of which she liked, until she tried on an all-black dress that caught Xie Xiaofei's eye.
However, Xie Xiaofei's aunt arrived and claimed the dress was pre-ordered. Tong Wei felt embarrassed and wanted to take it off, but Xie Xiaofei firmly insisted that Tong Wei keep the dress and told his aunt to choose a more age-appropriate one. Infuriated, his aunt left the store and complained to Xie Tiancheng, who vowed that Xie Tianyou and Xie Xiaofei would soon be begging him on their knees.
After shopping, Xie Xiaofei brought Tong Wei to his New York apartment, where he usually resided. Tong Wei still felt uneasy about the incident with his aunt, but Xie Xiaofei dismissed his aunt as a vain old woman, asserting that family ties were insignificant in a family like the Xies, where profit was paramount. He then affectionately asked Tong Wei to put on the dress again and placed his cherished mother's diamond necklace around her neck, deeply moving Tong Wei.
Meanwhile, in Shanghai, Zhao Chenxi's mother insisted that Yang Xiao take her on a vacation. Although Zhao Chenxi initially felt she didn't need rest, Yang Xiao convinced her to take time to recover her spirits and return to group affairs with a better mental outlook. She eventually agreed, turning off her phone to relax and enjoy the break. The Xie Corporation's press conference began. Xie Xiaofei and Tong Wei arrived elegantly dressed.
As Xie Tianyou excitedly prepared to announce a new collaboration, he was abruptly interrupted by Xie Tiancheng and Xie Xiaotian, who aggressively arrived at the venue. Xie Tiancheng dramatically announced that he had successfully acquired enough Xie Corporation shares to become the largest shareholder. Faced with this betrayal and sudden news, Xie Tianyou was unable to bear the shock and collapsed. Sometime after the takeover, Tong Wei and Xie Xiaofei had a tense encounter with Madam Wu, Xie Tiancheng's wife.
Madam Wu called Xie Xiaofei a "failure" and Tong Wei "undignified" for being with him. Tong Wei defiantly stated that Xie Xiaofei had her, which made her of "tremendous value" compared to Madam Wu. She then advised Madam Wu to tell her husband to return what he had taken and to lead him onto the right path, as he was "nobody to be proud of."
Xie Xiaofei added a warning, declaring that the old "Xie Xiao Fei who used to only eat M9 steak is now dead," and the new Xie Xiaofei "will eat anything as long as it's filling." He vowed to take back what rightfully belonged to him. Madam Wu and Xie Tiancheng remained defiant, asserting they were not afraid and would be waiting to see who laughed last. Xie Xiaofei later apologized to Tong Wei for involving her in the conflict.
Xie Xiaofei then took Tong Wei to a boxing gym. There, he confronted a boxer he had previously defeated. The boxer revealed that he was paid by Xie Xiaofei's family (his father, Xie Tianyou) to lose the match so his sister could receive medical treatment. This revelation deeply shook Xie Xiaofei, making him question his own strength and abilities. He confessed to Tong Wei that without his father and Xie Corporation, he felt like "nothing."
At the hospital, Xie Xiaofei confronted Xie Xiaotian, grabbing his collar and demanding to know why he betrayed them. Xie Xiaotian bitterly recounted the years of humiliation and injustice he and his mother suffered, vowing to return it all to Xie Xiaofei. Xie Xiaotian's mother, overhearing her son's words, was deeply ashamed and apologized profusely to Xie Xiaofei, realizing Xie Xiaotian acted out of resentment for her situation.
After regaining consciousness, Xie Tianyou told Xie Xiaofei and Tong Wei that he knew Xie Tiancheng was discontent but failed to guard against him this time. He then confessed to Xie Xiaofei about his actions, including setting up a new company for Xiaofei's resort concept and buying land in his grandmother's hometown, intending it as a first step for Xiaofei to "strengthen his wings and abilities."
He also admitted to bribing the boxer to fix matches so Xiaofei wouldn't experience defeat, explaining he wanted to "clear all obstructions" in his son's path. He emphasized the importance of enduring humiliation for one's career. Xie Tianyou then explained that the only way to defeat Xie Tiancheng now was to find Tommy Cai, a secret Chinese partner of Xie Corporation from thirty years ago, which would give them a majority stake.
He gave them an old photo as their only clue. Meanwhile, Xie Xiaotian's mother emotionally confronted her son, telling him he should not have done what he did. She revealed her unconditional love for Xie Tianyou and pleaded with Xiaotian to allow Xie Tianyou to live his remaining life in peace and health, now that he had taken his business.
Back at his New York apartment, Tong Wei discussed methods to reclaim Xie Corporation, but Xie Xiaofei seemed to have lost interest. He expressed that he didn't want the power, believing Xie Tianyou clung to it too tightly, and felt the current situation might even be better for his father, as Xie Corporation had come to this point because of power struggles.
He sadly told Tong Wei he wished he were just an ordinary person, spared from the pain of falling from grace. On her vacation, Zhao Chenxi shared a similar sentiment with Yang Xiao, wishing she were an ordinary woman free from career pressures and family feuds. She initially talked about taking time off to study art history in England. However, upon hearing news of Xie Xiaofei's family crisis online, she worried about him and tried to contact him.
Despite Yang Xiao's reminders of how Xie Xiaofei treated her, Zhao Chenxi defended him, stating he helped her against Song Haojie. Yang Xiao harshly pointed out Xie Xiaofei didn't like her, which Zhao Chenxi already knew, but she insisted she could not abandon him now. She later met with Lawyer Qin, who was still fixated on Tong Wei. Zhao Chenxi proposed they work together, as she wanted Xie Xiaofei and he wanted Tong Wei.
She suggested that Lawyer Qin wouldn't want Tong Wei to suffer alongside Xie Xiaofei now that his father was no longer chairman. She reaffirmed to Yang Xiao that she would still go to Europe, but "not right now." The next morning, as Tong Wei and Xie Xiaofei enjoyed the New York sunshine on their balcony, they were interrupted by people sent by the new chairman to reclaim the apartment, ordering Xie Xiaofei to leave immediately.
Xie Xiaofei called Xie Tiancheng, who gleefully confirmed he had frozen all of Xie Xiaofei's and his father's assets. He even claimed that Xie Xiaofei's mother's medical expenses were covered by Xie Corporation, which he was also reclaiming. Incensed, Xie Xiaofei confronted Xie Xiaotian, demanding an explanation for his actions. Xie Xiaotian remained unyielding, reiterating the pain and humiliation he and his mother suffered within the Xie family.
He insulted Xie Xiaofei, calling him a "parasite" who only consumed without contributing. In a dramatic gesture, Xie Xiaofei emptied his wallet, discarding all his Xie Corporation bank cards, vowing never to spend another cent of the Xie family's money and to prove his capabilities. Xie Xiaofei and Tong Wei then boarded a plane for China, where Xie Xiaofei, unaccustomed to economy class, complained of discomfort and dizziness.
Upon their arrival, Qin Tianyu showed up, claiming to have heard from a mutual friend that they were returning and offering to drive them. Xie Xiaofei, consumed by jealousy, tried to stop Qin Tianyu and argued with Tong Wei, accusing Qin Tianyu of having ulterior motives. Tong Wei dismissed his jealousy as childish, reminding him that she was his girlfriend regardless of who picked her up. They reconciled with a kiss.
Later, attempting to check into a hotel, Xie Xiaofei's credit cards were declined due to the asset freeze. Tong Wei offered to pay, but Xie Xiaofei's pride initially prevented him from accepting. Tong Wei insisted on helping him, and he eventually agreed to stay at her family's home. At Tong Wei's home, her aunt, Mei Yan, and her daughter, Tian Tian, immediately expressed their displeasure at Xie Xiaofei's presence.
They made pointed remarks about his family's alleged bankruptcy and questioned why he wasn't staying in a five-star hotel if he was so wealthy, speculating that something serious must have happened to his family's finances. During dinner, Mei Yan continued with snide comments, hinting that he was a burden and not worthy of respect, and worried that he would "laze around" and not leave.
Tong Wei's family discussed how to manage the situation and pressured Tong Wei's uncle to "show his authority." Tong Wei repeatedly defended Xie Xiaofei, asserting that she knew what she was doing and demanding that her family show him minimum respect, even if they did not like him.
